WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
Opening Prayer
Lord, I wait on You today. Speak to me now.
Read Luke 23:47–56
47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
The Burial of Jesus
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How easy do you find waiting?Waiting can be so irksome. “Why have you kept me waiting?” “What are you waiting for?” And yet, waiting can be a creative time.
Joseph of Arimathea was waiting for the “kingdom of God” (51). Whether he understood Jesus’ radical interpretation of the kingdom as God’s saving reign is not clear. But he was a good man and decided, at some risk (Mark 15:42–45), to approach Pilate and ask for the body of Jesus. His protest at the Sanhedrin had come to nothing and this was the least he could do. Waiting and action are not necessarily contradictory. As today you wait for the big issues of the kingdom to be revealed, determine to do what you can. A word of encouragement, an act of kindness, an invitation to a meal. “Don’t just stand there, do something!”
The women were waiting for the right moment to honor Jesus in burial. The Sabbath was not that moment, as they rightly observed the law. So they rested (56) and then were ready to go to the tomb. Little did they know what lay ahead! Waiting and resting is so often the wise thing.
“Don’t just do something, stand there!” Into the silence and darkness of that Saturday, so much love and kindness flowed. That’s what waiting can do.
Apply
“The meaning is in the waiting” (R.S. Thomas). Take time to wait on God now. Quietly repeat a key verse over slowly to yourself as you focus on God’s truth and wait for Him to speak.
Closing prayer
Jesus, I wait in Your presence now. I am listening. Reveal to me who You are.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.